As Martin Odegaard adjusts to playing behind a new striker for Arsenal, he is working to perfect his “combinations” with Gabriel Jesus.

Jesus, 25, earned his first competitive start in the opening-night Premier League match against Crystal Palace after moving to the Gunners for £45 million from Manchester City this summer.

The Brazilian attacker impressed despite not scoring in the 2-0 victory at Selhurst Park, and Odegaard was another standout performance in the No. 10 position.

The freshly named club captain, a Norwegian playmaker, is aware of how crucial it is to forge a strong alliance with Jesus. Odegaard, 23, is encouraged by their initial performances together but hopes for an even stronger chemistry in the games to come, beginning with Saturday’s game against Leicester at the Emirates.

William Saliba, who made his competitive Arsenal debut against the Eagles and received another start against the Foxes, was again singled out for appreciation by Odegaard. The center defender, 21, had to wait three years to don a Gunners jersey in a competitive match, but he still played coolly despite the hostile South London crowd.

Being named the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year for his outstanding loan season at Marseille last year, Saliba’s success in his debut start for Arsenal came as no surprise. Mikel Arteta decided to keep his starting lineup the same for Leicester’s visit because he was so satisfied with his team’s performance against Palace.

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